A friend wrote about admiring my “…patience and attitude in this labor of love.” Her response to a celebratory post I’d made about completing my final revisions, before handing my manuscript over to my editor. She ended by reminding me, “It’s worth it.”
I wonder about that. When I think of the five precious years I’ve worked on this story, all I can see is my heart brush-stroked across each page. All three-hundred-seventy of them.
I wonder about the times I’ve raced home from a long day at work, only to pour myself into a chapter. To write. To revise. To fix and fancy… to sometimes start all over again.
I wonder about the summers and weekends I sat at my writing desk, reminding myself I am already the writer I hope to be.
And I wonder why I have this drive at all, when I can pull up any notable author and read review after review of attacks on the content or craft of his or her work. This is the fear that keeps me revising (and still fearing the rejection I’m expecting— it’s unrealistic I could please every reader).
Then, it comes to me; my creation. My work. Me. It doesn’t matter who accepts or rejects my final story; I do accept it. It is a labor of love, and I believe that’s the beauty in it. If I fail according to the world, that’s only the world. I hope I can awaken each morning proud that I attempted to create something new. My wish, to leave behind tender pieces of my heart and stand by my progress.
My husband recently encouraged me. He said when I finally call my story done, I must let the negative comments or judgements from others go and honor my work by praising the $@*& out of it! It’s my energy, sweat, blood, and tears, so I will need to stand up and holler – it is worthy!
I believe he is right. And my friend too. I have shown patience in this process, and I have ridden a roller-coaster of emotions throughout the years as well. Would I have done it another way, had I had the chance? NOPE! I’ve learned more in my mistakes and rewrites than I could ever imagine. Each layer causing only more depth for my story… and for myself.
Writing Advice: Binoculars
Get into your character’s head. Look through his or her eyes at the world you’ve created. To do this, go back and pick apart a paragraph or a page, how about an entire scene? Did you use phrases like, he thought he would, or she must have known about, or is he or she wondering anything?
Being the wordy writer that I am, I fall into these traps all the time. I’m still going back through my manuscript and rethinking my sentences; each character needs to BE in each moment their own way.
Every character in your story will notice the details and happenings in your scenes differently. SHOW who each character is by how he or she individually reacts or responds in situations. This might take a pair of literary binoculars, if you will. Sometimes it’s the only way I can see past my murky paragraphs. When I fully zoom in, they are glaring!
Here is a quick and clever article about Deep POV, by Bre Miche, https://writingcooperative.com/how-to-make-readers-captivated-using-deep-pov-6741b0cc3171 She has some clear examples showing how to pull the tags out and bring the reader in. And that’s the point.
Happy Writing (because deeply connecting to our readers should feel pretty darn good)!
~ By Celaine Charles, May 26, 2019
Image and Content Links:
https://writingcooperative.com/how-to-make-readers-captivated-using-deep-pov-6741b0cc3171 (Bre Miche article on Deep POV)
https://bestofbinoculars.com/best-small-compact-binoculars/ (binoculars)
https://kingdomcallingblog.com/2018/07/22/beauty-is-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder/ (beauty in the eye of beholder)
https://www.deviantart.com/kate-mur/art/Beauty-is-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder-489685512 (painted eye)
- Meandering Through my Muddled Writing Thoughts (read at your own risk)
- June Poetry Celebration ~ Letting Words Live
Categories: Thoughts on writing...
Tags: #amwritingfantasy, #amwritingfiction, #amwritingpoetry, #beauty, #celainecharleswriter, #poetrycommunity, #poety, #stepsinbetween, #writeeveryday, #writersjourney, #writingjourney, #writinglife, #writingtime, #writingtips, amwriting, authors, books, creators, encouragement, inspiration, reading, writers, writing
Steps In Between 
thank you for sharing this it’s very inspiring
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I hope so. I know I can’t be alone out there. Ha Ha!
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Haven’t seen a failure from you yet… and don’t expect to. Your writing here and elsewhere is always insightful.
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Bless you! ☀️
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“each character needs to BE in each moment their own way.” Such good advice! Great post that pulled me in. I love the title of your book, “Seam Keepers.” Right? It intrigues me. I wonder why the title isn’t peppered all through this post. Beautiful site. Ripe with engaging reading. Thank you for stopping by formidableWoman. Please do submit some of your (unpublished) poetry there! & best of luck to you at the conference!
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Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate your invite to submit. I have perused over your website and find it lovely, filled with so much. I found myself smiling as I uncovered book reviews, interviews, poetry, and more. I will look to submit something new in the near future. And I plan to return to your site for inspiration as well. Have a wonderful start to your summer!
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